Gonzaga and Good Counsel (Women) Victorious in Season Opener

By Reach for the Wall Staff

Bethesda MD 11/14/2023-

Tuesday night in the packed Stone Ridge Aquatic Center the teams from Good Counsel, Gonzaga, and Stone Ridge began their 2023-2024 swim seasons. The meet started off with the 1m diving where Good Counsel’s Fiona Tworowski edged Elice Lebedev 228.5 to 210.6, with the other Falcon divers capturing 3rd, 4th, and 5th, giving Good Counsel a 10-4 early lead. Gonzaga divers, led by Gavin Thompson took the top three places and held a 13-2 advantage heading into the swimming events.

The swimming events started with the 200 Medley Relay, where Gonzaga expanded their lead taking 1st and 3rd in the race. Stone Ridge also took 1st and 3rd, closing the gap with Good Counsel to tie the scoring at 14-14. Gonzaga put the meet out of reach after the 200 Freestyle, led by Palmer Bice going 1,2,4 and leading the overall scoring 35-10. Stone Ridge found themselves in an unfamiliar position in the 200 Freestyle, where in past years it was an event they would handily win. Good Counsel’s Celia Watkins and Lauren Smith took places 1,2,4 out-scoring Stone Ridge 12-4. Good Counsel’s girls never relinquished the lead after that race and went on to win the meet 108-78. Gonzaga continued to show their depth throughout the meet and outscored Good Counsel 125-60 for their first win of the season.
Even with the lopsided team scores, there were some exciting individual races…on the Men’s side, Malcolm McKenzie and Owen Watkins posted very swift 50 freestyle times with McKenzie getting to the wall 1st in 21.37 with Watkins finishing 2nd in 21.47. The closest race of the meet was in the girls 100 Backstroke, where freshman Harper Rushton from Stone Ridge surprised the field from lane 8, winning the event in 1:01.11 just nipping Celia Watkins who touched in 1:01.12!!

Individual event winners:

200 Freestyle: Palmer Bice (Gonzaga), Celia Watkins (Good Counsel)
200 IM: Chase Keeler (Good Counsel), Kellie Kincaid (Good Counsel)
50 Freestyle: Malcolm McKenzie (Gonzaga), Addison Webb (Stone Ridge)
100 Butterfly: Andre Brooks (Gonzaga), Harper Rushton (Stone Ridge)
100 Freestyle: Malcolm McKenzie (Gonzaga), Brea Brown (Good Counsel)
500 Freestyle: Cooper Zakorchemny (Good Counsel), Kellie Kincaid (Good Counsel)
100 Backstroke: Finn Bacon (Gonzaga), Harper Rushton (Stone Ridge)
100 Breaststroke: Caden Wilkinson (Gonzaga), Cameron House (Stone Ridge)

Next up: Gonzaga competed in the Jesuit Tri-meet with Loyola Blakefield and Georgetown Prep, outpacing both teams to remain undefeated for the season. Stone Ridge/Gonzaga will compete Tuesday 11/21 vs. Visitation and Maret….we could not locate a schedule for Good Counsel.